The Crafty Vintner - (Off Licence Belfast | Wine Merchant Belfast | Off Sales Belfast)

Food was lovely, atmosphere beautiful especially sitting on the terrace on a sunny morning BUT service was shocking. So slow, a number of male staff didn't seem to know what table they were bringing food or drinks too. Waited 35 mins in between ordering and getting our food. If you are going to go leave yourself 2-3 hours, wouldn't want have an appointment to run to.

You don't have to be a wine fan to come here but you may well soon become one if you are not. A cosy wine tasting room with a well stocked bar, several small plates to choose from (menu varies throughout the day) and cheese and charcuterie board selection all add to the enjoyment. The star of the room no doubt though is the wine tasting cabinet. Self service selection using a prepaid card from over 30 different wines makes for an enjoyable and fun evening. If you like what you taste you can buy a bottle to take home right there and then. Highly recommend the Crafty Vintner for a fun and enjoyable evening.My 2nd visit and this time I enjoyed some dishes from the 'small plates' selection. 'Asparagus' with the most delicious 'Hen's egg', 'Scallop' and 'Chorizo Croquette', each one better than the last. Absolutely delicious and highly recommended.

Great concept of a place really enjoyed it up until I had to deal with a person from reading the reviews is some how a manager called Rachel. Her attitude is disgusting she’s arrogant, passive and not made for a people facing job. Such a shame it makes me not want to return.

Our first time and wasn't a good experience unfortunately. Called in on Sun for food - servers were v thin on the ground, young though pleasant when they did get to you. Food service was quite slow and quality was very disappointing - the small plates were over priced tiny portions and completely lacked flavour or quality. I gave some feedback about the uneaten food but not sure how that was received? The waitress just scuttled off. We paid £40 for 2 drinks and 2 small plates - yikes.

Where to start. I struggle to comment on the restaurant itself because the “manager” was an absolute nightmare. She was extremely rude and unpleasant. Clearly she skipped the customer service and people skills part of her hospitality course. I can see similar reviews have been left so I can only imagine she is related to the owners otherwise she would have been sacked a long time ago. I will never go back nor recommend it to anyone.

This place should be given an award. Not for delicious food or 5 star service but for the rudest manager ever to be employed in hospitality.Was in on Friday and queued for a table. 2 of my friends arrived after we were seated so I got them a chair each as obviously one doesnt stand in such an establishment.What happened next was something Im still trying to comprehend. A manager called Rachel seemed to literally fall from the sky, grab the 2 chairs off me and follow up with a load of abuse. Apparently I was “rearranging the furniture” “disobeying the rules” and if I didnt “do what I was told” she would have to “ask me to leave”. I was honestly speechless and thought I was being pranked in some way but no seemingly this is how Rachel behaves on the daily. She literally spoke to me like I was a cross between something she had stood on and a naughty toddler as opposed to a paying customer. I tried to explain that the seats were for my 2 friends who were standing there awaiting a seat. This was not good enough, Rachel continued to give me a barrage of abuse and would not allow my friends to have seats. They had to leave. Totally shameful.Five minutes later, I had a security guard asking to speak to me. Rachel had walked him to the table to do so. He told me the manager was not “happy with a few things”. I asked what those “few things” were. He hadnt a clue. I told him I had committed the heinous crime of acquiring seats for 2 friends. He looked bewildered. He said that if I dont obey the rules I would be asked to leave. I’ve got to say I was gobsmacked. Never in my 50 years on earth has a security guard ever had to speak with me about anything. I get the impression that this guy spends his life being dictated to by this nutcase and just has to do what she says.At this stage I should have just left. I dont allow anyone to speak to me in the manner which Rachel did and I was totally humiliated. However as I was with friends and family who were wanting a meal I didnt want to ruin their experience. So we asked for menus on 3 separate occasions. After about 30 minutes we got them and discovered that the food offering was totally bizarre and not suitable to any of us. Having already been given a bitter taste in the mouth, there was no need for more.We left and I took the opportunity to advise Rachel that her attitude was absolutely abysmal. She was so up her own backside that she told me that I was very kind and thanked me. Clearly she is no stranger to negative feedback as she has perfectly honed in the ultimate rebuke. The way she swanned around the place with her nose in the air like she was better than everyone was quite nauseating. I really feel for the young staff who have to work with her.Later that evening I met people who immediately said “you were the girl in the Crafty Vintner”. They had seen the whole thing and were equally bemused at what had went on. Here I was embarrassed again through no fault of my own. How many other people witnessed the whole incident?This was my first and last time at the Crafy Vintner. I have honestly never experienced anything like it. Rachel clearly should not be employed in any customer facing role let alone in hospitality. She is nothing but rude and has no people skills whatsoever. In truth I believe she would benefit from a full psychiatric assessment, luckily you are in close proximity to Kingsbridge Private Hospital. Having read other reviews I can see Im not the first person to have experienced her rudeness and I highly doubt I will be the last.

I love The Crafty Vintner and often call in for a cold drink on the lovely terrace in the sun. I went for an evening out yesterday and was a little disappointed with the service and the food.I had the duck with rocket and seaweed salad and found the duck to be a very small portion and rather dry, and the seaweed in the salad was very strongly flavoured. My partner enjoyed his Salt and Chilli Squid.The waiter was polite and friendly, but inexperienced. It meant there were some mistakes in the service and the experience wasn't as nice as I had hoped, but management were great and addressed our issues very well.I'll be back, as I love the wine selection and the terrace is lovely to relax and watch Belfast go by.

Amazing place to get lost in on a Sunday afternoon. The pay as you go wine setup is great and the selection on offer is brilliant.Food is great too and lots to choose from.

It's a lovely place , however, not gluten free friendly at all unless you just want a bowl of fries. There's not even the gluten free caramel square available anymore as dessert. Replaced by overpriced macaroons offering zero choice all said. Our service was nice and staff friendly but we need something to actually come in for. Enough said..

Service pretty slow for a quiet early Sunday afternoon. Ordered a Bloody Mary and a glass of Rose and waited around 15 minutes for them to come. Noticed they poured the wine then threw it out. They were also sniffing the tomato juice at the bar which is disconcerting. My friend didn't like the Bloody Mary as it was lacking Worcestershire sauce. Not great. Won't be back.